Flyers Send Luchanko, Knuble to Minors, Roster at 26

Friday was an off day for the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of one more preseason game on Saturday. But before then, the final roster became even clearer.

Four more cuts were made by the Flyers on Friday, bringing the roster to 26 players. Jett Luchanko, Cole Knuble, Jacob Gaucher, and Oliver Bonk were all sent to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Gaucher has been an occasional call-up, but has always been more of an AHL player. Luchanko, Knuble, and Bonk were all names worth watching as camp progressed. It seems that for all three, it simply came down to a numbers game.

Luchanko had a solid preseason, playing in all three games to this point and picking up three assists along the way, but it always seemed like he was on track to start with the Phantoms in what will be his first full season of professional hockey.

Bonk certainly has more pro experience after spending last season almost entirely with the Phantoms, but his late-season call-up and one-game appearance in the playoffs left reason to believe Bonk was high on the list of possibilities to make the team. Bonk is still on his entry-level deal and waiver-exempt, where a player like David Jiricek, whom the Flyers acquired at the trade deadline in March, would have to pass through.

Knuble had certainly carved out a path for himself to make the team. Coming into camp as a true wildcard, Knuble scored twice and added an assist in all three preseason games so far. When the Flyers had Denver Barkey go down with an injury in Monday’s preseason opener, there was some thought that Knuble could take his spot if there was an extended absence. By sending Knuble down, it seems to be a strong indication that Barkey’s health will be in good shape come Wednesday’s opener.

This leaves the Flyers with three more cuts to make, and it’s not too challenging to identify them. Garrett Wilson remains on the camp roster, but is on an AHL contract, so he’ll likely join the Phantoms after the preseason finale. Helge Grans suffered an injury in Thursday’s game, and likely is the odd-man out of the remaining defensemen. And the Flyers are still carrying three goalies with Aleksei Kolosov in camp and Dan Vladar’s day-to-day status still up in the air.

In the event the Flyers need to carry a third goaltender for a brief period, Carl Grundstrom is also still up with the club and can be sent to the minors at any time after clearing waivers earlier this week.

The Flyers have one more preseason game on Saturday before the final decisions need to be made on the 23-man roster to start the season. They take on the Washington Capitals at 5 PM.

Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media @Kevin_Durso.